Fall ’22 Club: 2019 Angeli Zinfandel
Once a component of the Angeli Cuvée, this Zinfandel long stood out for its brilliance, clarity, and leanness. Now, showcased on its own, it speaks volumes about this unique little canyon off Alexander Valley known as Angeli Ranch. The halo-like image on the label pays homage to Viola Angeli, who sold the Angeli Ranch to Chris Bilbro in an angelic act that mirrors her name.
The estate series from Marietta is made with terroir in mind above all else. For many years these sites were included in blends, though they routinely stood out as extraordinary. These wines are true expressions of unique sites, crafted with freshness, tension and longevity in mind.
2019 Angeli Zinfandel
ESTATE SERIES
100% Zinfandel | Angeli Ranch Estate, Alexander Valley AVA
This is a thoughtful, structured organic Zinfandel wine with expressive texture and a bright disposition. Boysenberries, fragrant strawberries, and fresh lavender are seamlessly interwoven with peppered spice, cinnamon, and rich earth tones, providing harmonious complexity. The extremes of this site create a wine that is full bodied yet graceful, equally enjoyable now as it is ageworthy.
TASTING NOTES
From the Angeli vineyard in the Alexander Valley, these vines are grown in a large gravel swale that was the former Russian River prior to streambed migration. Yielding notes of potpourri and raspberry with exotic undernotes of orange chocolate and roses, this is not your average Zinfandel. Spicy white pepper and mint add freshness and verve to the brambly, dried cranberry filled mouth. Both pleasurable and demanding, this screams to be enjoyed with food… the bright acid and focused mouthfeel balance out rich and savory fare such as duck or mushroom risotto.
PAIRING SUGGESTIONS
An excellent foil to charred scallions, leg of lamb, and rosemary-scented potatoes, or as a more sturdy accompaniment to a creamy chocolate dessert.
CRITICS REVIEWS
95 POINTS | Wine Advocate: “The 2019 Angeli Zinfandel has a medium ruby color and elegant perfume of white peaches, white pepper, tea leaves, licorice and wild berries. The palate balances intense, ultra-perfumed fruit with loads of lift, and it finishes long and full of flavor. This is notable for its stellar price-to-quality ratio.”
95 POINTS | James Suckling: “Such a pretty zin with blackberries, figs, flowers and some bark on the nose. Follows through to a medium body, with firm and fine tannins and a fresh, spicy finish that develops into a black-pepper undertone. Very balanced zin.”
This wine is included in the 2022 Fall Club Shipment, along with our club-exclusive 2019 EX MARIETTA Petite Sirah, and our 2019 Christo Red from our Family series Learn more about the Marietta Wine Club here.
Vineyard Notes
The Angeli Ranch was sold to Chris Bilbro in 1990 by Viola Angeli, whose family had originally settled the land in 1886. When Viola was ready to sell the property, she offered it to Chris Bibro because he had purchased the grapes from the ranch for many years and always visited with Viola regularly. 35 acres of vineyards connect gravel swales from the Russian River to terraced knolls invisible from the valley floor. The Angeli Zinfandel takes its name from the homesteading family and exemplifies the cool effect of these unique vineyards in a bright, tense, and stony expression of Zinfandel.
Keep Exploring
2022 Fall Club Selection
2019 EX MARIETTA Petite Sirah. LEARN MORE>
2019 Christo Red. LEARN MORE>
2019 Angeli Zinfandel. SHOP NOW>